Animal Legislation

The human partnership with working animals runs long and deep and the carriage horse remains a touchstone to that past, allowing us to remember a simpler time, when that very partnership was essential to life itself. We many are…

Everyone agrees for dogs, cats, humans, and most species, that dental care is beneficial to the patient’s health. Unfortunately, in some cases, it can become fatal for some pets when we legislate improved dental care.

Since May 2012, purebred dog and cat enthusiasts, rabbit and other small animal breeders and animal activists have been focused on the USDA’s proposed rule updating the retail pet store definition in the federal Animal Welfare…

Animal Research

A recently published report of the limitations of mouse models has been used by the HSUS to justify their drive to end all animal use in research. However, this report in PNAS was a further refinement of our knowledge concerning…

Animal Rights Extremism

American dog lovers call on Outfront Media to honor the Outdoor Advertising Association of America’s code of conduct and remove PETA’s hateful billboard, which is designed to discredit AKC breeders and hurt their upcoming dog…

A recently published report of the limitations of mouse models has been used by the HSUS to justify their drive to end all animal use in research. However, this report in PNAS was a further refinement of our knowledge concerning…

Animal Rights vs Animal Welfare

Some people use the terms animal welfare and animal rights interchangeably, suggesting that they represent the same concerns, principles and practices. But the differences between the two are significant and irreconcilable.

Thirty years ago, animal welfare groups joined forces to wipe out ‘pet overpopulation’ and the resulting shelter deaths caused by indiscriminate breeding. At the time, puppies flooded shelters and animal control agencies, adoption…

Some people use the terms animal welfare and animal rights interchangeably, suggesting that they represent the same concerns, principles and practices. But the differences between the two are significant and irreconcilable.

Animals in Education & Entertainment

A myth is a powerful thing. Every time there is a slow news day or a rodeo returns to town, animal rights groups bring the debate over rodeo bronc riding and cruelty to the front again. The myth that rodeo bronc riding is cruel…

As with any other industry or sport that utilizes animals, the sport of rodeo must continually educate the public about the care and handling of the livestock used in rodeos. Critics of rodeo often show many areas where they do…

Congressman Sam Farr wants to ban elephants in circuses. Mayor Paul Schell of Seattle, Washington, wants his city to go a bit further and ban all wild animal acts at city facilities, and Redmond, Washington, enacted a circus animal…

Book Reviews

“The humane movement has been hijacked, radicalized, and rerouted. Started more than 100 years ago, it was traditionally concerned with the humane treatment of animals. In the last 20 years, however, it has been taken over…

Canine Issues

Since May 2012, purebred dog and cat enthusiasts, rabbit and other small animal breeders and animal activists have been focused on the USDA’s proposed rule updating the retail pet store definition in the federal Animal Welfare…

Thirty years ago, animal welfare groups joined forces to wipe out ‘pet overpopulation’ and the resulting shelter deaths caused by indiscriminate breeding. At the time, puppies flooded shelters and animal control agencies, adoption…

Celebrate the people involved in animal rescue and shelter work who dedicate their lives to saving lives, who come up with innovative ideas to find permanent homes for animals. Celebrate responsible pet owners. But don’t turn…

Farm and Ranch Almanac

A myth is a powerful thing. Every time there is a slow news day or a rodeo returns to town, animal rights groups bring the debate over rodeo bronc riding and cruelty to the front again. The myth that rodeo bronc riding is cruel…

The slaughter of horses in the United States, one of the most controversial issues in the equine world, is an emotional issue that makes it very difficult to be pragmatic despite overwhelming evidence supporting its continuation.

Feline Issues

The report begins with an indictment of the latest fad in animal control laws: The San Francisco SPCA has considered the various claims made for mandatory cat licensing legislation and has found little in the way of evidence - or…

More than two years ago, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2000 that directed the Federal Aviation Administration to write rules for a reporting system to be used by airlines when animals escaped, were injured, or died…

Val, a friend of mine, is a photographer’s representative for a celebrity photographer. She was recently on a photo shoot, and while chatting to the actor who was being photographed, he mentioned that he had an Oriental Shorthair…

Guest Editorial

Rescue

A new ideology and the end of dog overpopulation in many parts of the country cause not-for-profit humane organizations to abandon their missions and replace long-standing codes-of-conduct with irresponsible practices.

Celebrate the people involved in animal rescue and shelter work who dedicate their lives to saving lives, who come up with innovative ideas to find permanent homes for animals. Celebrate responsible pet owners. But don’t turn…

Research Reports

The animal rights movement’s effort to place the rights of animals above those of humans concerns me. A recent book, Rattling the Cage, by Stephen Wise argues that chimpanzees should be granted legal standing; in other words,…

Many articles in the popular press have attempted to justify animal research. Still more articles have been written in opposition to animal research, but few are by experienced technicians describing how animals are really used…

Progress always carries with it the potential for unintended consequences. In this case, efforts at reducing dog overpopulation have been so successful that in parts of the country there are not enough dogs to meet local demand.…

Following graduation from veterinary school, and my “coerced” entry on active duty with the Air Force (there was something in those days called the Draft), my first assignment was at a research laboratory in Fairbanks,…

Our dogs and dog owners everywhere lost a tremendous advocate on July 3, 2006, when Captain Arthur J. Haggerty - also known as “The Captain” or just “Cap” to his friends - passed away from cancer at the age…